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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory.

Dendritic development of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in a neonatal hypoxia–ischemia injury model
It is believed that neonatal hypoxia–ischemia (HI) brain injury causes neuron loss and brain functional defects. However, the effect of HI brain injury on dendritic development of the remaining pyramidal cells of the hippocampus and the reaction of contralateral hippocampal neurons require further studies. The Morris water maze and Golgi–Cox staining were used to evaluate the learning and memory and dendritic morphology of pyramidal cells. The results of Golgi–Cox staining showed CA1 pyramidal neurons of HI injury models with fewer bifurcations and shorter dendrite length than the naive control group. The density of ...
Source: Journal of Neuroscience Research - May 23, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Yan Dong Zhao, Shan Ou, Sai Yu Cheng, Zhi Xiao, Wen Juan He, Jin Hai Zhang, Huai Zhen Ruan Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

An Increase in Synaptic NMDA Receptors in the Insular Cortex Contributes to Neuropathic Pain.
Abstract Neurons in the insular cortex are activated by acute and chronic pain, and inhibition of neuronal activity in the insular cortex has analgesic effects. We found that in a mouse model in which peripheral nerve injury leads to the development of neuropathic pain, the insular cortex showed changes in synaptic plasticity, which were associated with a long-term increase in the amount of synaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), but not that of extrasynaptic NMDARs. Activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling enhanced the amount of synaptic NMDARs in acutely isolated insular c...
Source: Science Signaling - May 22, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Qiu S, Chen T, Koga K, Guo YY, Xu H, Song Q, Wang JJ, Descalzi G, Kaang BK, Luo JH, Zhuo M, Zhao MG Tags: Sci Signal Source Type: research

Requirement for nuclear calcium signaling in Drosophila long-term memory.
Abstract Calcium is used throughout evolution as an intracellular signal transducer. In the mammalian central nervous system, calcium mediates the dialogue between the synapse and the nucleus that is required for transcription-dependent persistent neuronal adaptations. A role for nuclear calcium signaling in similar processes in the invertebrate brain has yet to be investigated. Here, we show by in vivo calcium imaging of adult brain neurons of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, that electrical foot shocks used in olfactory avoidance conditioning evoked transient increases in cytosolic and nuclear calcium conce...
Source: Science Signaling - May 22, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Weislogel JM, Bengtson CP, Müller MK, Hörtzsch JN, Bujard M, Schuster CM, Bading H Tags: Sci Signal Source Type: research

Charged membranes.
Abstract This Teaching Resource provides three animated lessons that describe the storage and utilization of energy across plasma membranes. The "Na,K ATPase" animation explains how these pumps establish the electrochemical gradient that stores energy across plasma membranes. The "ATP synthesizing complexes" animation shows how these complexes transfer energy from the inner mitochondrial membrane to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The "action potential" lesson explains how charged membranes are used to propagate signals along the axons of neurons. These animations serve as valuable resources for any collegiate-level ...
Source: Science Signaling - May 22, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Thatcher JD Tags: Sci Signal Source Type: research

Potential use of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier.
Abstract Nanomedicine is certainly one of the scientific and technological challenges of the coming years. In particular, biodegradable nanoparticles formulated from poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) have been extensively investigated for sustained and targeted delivery of different agents, including recombinant proteins, plasmid DNA, and low molecular weight compounds. PLGA NPs present some very attractive properties such as biodegradability and biocompatibility, protection of drug from degradation, possibility of sustained release, and the possibility to modify surface properties to target nanoparticles to s...
Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry - May 22, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Tosi G, Bortot B, Ruozi B, Dolcetta D, Vandelli MA, Forni F, Severini GM Tags: Curr Med Chem Source Type: research

Mechanism-based testing strategy using in vitro approaches for identification of thyroid hormone disrupting chemicals.
Abstract The thyroid hormone (TH) system is involved in several important physiological processes, including regulation of energy metabolism, growth and differentiation, development and maintenance of brain function, thermo-regulation, osmo-regulation, and axis of regulation of other endocrine systems, sexual behaviour and fertility and cardiovascular function. Therefore, concern about TH disruption (THD) has resulted in strategies being developed to identify THD chemicals (THDCs). Information on potential of chemicals causing THD is typically derived from animal studies. For the majority of chemicals, however, thi...
Source: Toxicology in Vitro - May 22, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Murk AJ, Rijntjes E, Blaauboer BJ, Clewell R, Crofton KM, Dingemans MM, Furlow JD, Kavlock R, Köhrle J, Opitz R, Traas T, Visser TJ, Xia M, Gutleb AC Tags: Toxicol In Vitro Source Type: research

Entomotoxicity and biosafety assessment of PEGylated acephate nanoparticles: A biologically safe alternative to neurotoxic pesticides.
Abstract This is a report of an experimental study on a nanoencapsulation of the organophosphate acephate. Acephate was encapsulated in polyethylene glycol, using a simple, easy-to-replicate method that required no special equipment or conditions. The nanoencapsulation (nanoacephate) was characterized and its bioefficacy as compared to the regular commercial acephate was tested. The biosafety of the new compound was also tested on a murine model. Our new nanoencapsulation scored over the regular variety on all counts. It was found to successfully incorporate the active pesticidal component, acephate and this compou...
Source: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part. B, Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes - May 22, 2013 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Pradhan S, Roy I, Lodh G, Patra P, Choudhury SR, Samanta A, Goswami A Tags: J Environ Sci Health B Source Type: research

Study: Empathy plays a key role in moral judgments
(Boston College) Utilitarian judgment may arise not simply from enhanced cognitive control but also from diminished emotional processing and reduced empathy, according to a report by Liane Young, assistant professor of psychology at Boston College in Massachusetts and Ezequiel Gleichgerrcht of the Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Favaloro University in Argentina. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 22, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Addiction as a disorder of decision-making
(Canadian Association for Neuroscience) New research shows that craving drugs such as nicotine can be visualized in specific regions of the brain that are implicated in determining the value of actions, in planning actions and in motivation. Dr. Alain Dagher, from McGill University, suggests abnormal interactions between these decision-making brain regions could underlie addiction. These results were presented at the 2013 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, the annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience -- Association Canadienne des Neurosciences. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 22, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Addiction to unhealthy foods could help explain the global obesity epidemic
(Canadian Association for Neuroscience) Research presented today shows that high-fructose corn syrup can cause behavioral reactions in rats similar to those produced by drugs of abuse such as cocaine. These results, presented by addiction expert Francesco Leri, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science at the University of Guelph, suggest food addiction could explain, at least partly, the current global obesity epidemic. These results were presented at the 2013 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, the annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience -- Association Canadienne des Neurosciences. ...
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 22, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Study shows that insomnia may cause dysfunction in emotional brain circuitry
(American Academy of Sleep Medicine) A new study provides neurobiological evidence for dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying emotion regulation in people with insomnia, which may have implications for the risk relationship between insomnia and depression. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 22, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Differential androgen receptor expression and DNA methylation state in striatum song nucleus Area X between wild and domesticated songbird strains
We report evidence for differential gene expression between wild and domesticated strains having different learned vocal phenotypes. A domesticated strain of the wild white‐rumped munia, the Bengalese finch, has a distinct song pattern with a more complicated syntax than the wild strain. We identified differential androgen receptor (AR) expression in basal ganglia nucleus Area X GABAergic neurons between the two strains, and within different domesticated populations. Differences in AR expression were correlated with the mean coefficient of variation of the inter‐syllable duration in the two strains. Differential AR exp...
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 22, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Kazuhiro Wada, Shin Hayase, Raimu Imai, Chihiro Mori, Masahiko Kobayashi, Wan‐chun Liu, Miki Takahasi, Kazuo Okanoya Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Feedback and feedforward adaptation to visuomotor delay during reaching and slicing movements
We present a computational model accounting for these results based on two adapted forward models, each tuned for a specific modality delay (proprioception or vision), and a third feedforward controller. The computational model, along with the experimental results, refutes delay representation in a pure forward vision‐based predictor and suggests that adaptation occurred in the forward vision‐based predictor, and concurrently in the state‐based feedforward controller. Understanding how the brain compensates for conductance and processing delays is essential for understanding certain impairments concerning these neura...
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 22, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Lior Botzer, Amir Karniel Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Expression of integrin and CD44 receptors recognising osteopontin in the normal and LPS‐lesioned rat substantia nigra
Abstract The multifunctional protein osteopontin (OPN) is expressed in the substantia nigra (SN) and protects nigral dopaminergic neurones against toxic insult in animal models of Parkinson's disease, although the mechanisms involved are uncertain. In the periphery, OPN regulates inflammatory processes by interacting with integrin and CD44 receptors but the presence and distribution of these sites in SN is unknown. We investigated the expression of integrin receptor subunits and CD44 receptors in the normal SN and after induction of inflammation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and their interaction with OPN. In normal rat SN,...
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 22, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sara Ailane, Philip Long, Peter Jenner, Sarah Rose Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Development of behavioral preferences for the optimal choice following unexpected reward omission is mediated by a reduction of D2‐like receptor tone in the nucleus accumbens
This study investigates the role of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens in altering behavior in response to the omission of an expected reward. Similarly to controls, multiple doses of a D1‐like receptor agonist, D1‐like receptor antagonist, and D2‐like receptor antagonist do not prevent subjects from developing a robust behavioral preference for the rewarded lever and avoiding the omitted‐reward lever during the first session of reward omission. However, the D2‐like agonist quinpirole dose‐dependently blocks a behavioral preference for the rewarded lever, suggesting that reductions in D2‐like recepto...
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 22, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Kirsten A. Porter‐Stransky, Jillian L. Seiler, Jeremy J. Day, Brandon J. Aragona Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Without Glia, the Brain Would Starve
The brain is voracious: compared with other organs, it consumes 10 times more oxygen and nutrients, receiving them by way of dense networks of blood vessels. Scientists know how these networks initially grow, but a surprising new study suggests that they are stabilized in early life by stem cells in the brain called radial glia. The finding could have significant implications for our understanding of Alzheimer's disease, a condition characterized in part by brainwide vascular problems. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)
Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed - May 21, 2013 Category: Science Tags: Mind & Brain,Neuroscience,Everyday Science,More Science,Health,Mind Source Type: research

Sexual function in older adults with thoracolumbar–pelvic instrumentation
(Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group) Surgeons investigated sexual function in 62 patients, 50 years and older, who had received extensive spinal-pelvic instrumentation for spinal deformity at the University of Virginia Health Center. Based on their results, the surgeons found that it is very possible for older people to achieve satisfactory sexual function despite having extensive spinal-pelvic instrumentation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 21, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Enrichment therapy effective among children with autism, UCI study finds
(University of California - Irvine) Children with autism showed significant improvement after six months of simple sensory exercises at home using everyday items such as scents, spoons and sponges, according to UC Irvine neurobiologists. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 21, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

NYU's Movshon receives Lashley Award for his research on the neuroscience of vision
(New York University) The American Philosophical Society has awarded New York University neuroscientist J. Anthony Movshon its 2013 Karl Spencer Lashley Award in recognition of his "pioneering work on the neuroscience of vision." (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 21, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum awarded the Canadian Association for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award
(Canadian Association for Neuroscience) The Canadian Association for Neuroscience is proud to announce Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum, from York University, has received the CAN 2013 Young Investigator Award at the opening ceremony of 7th Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting. Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum is a renowned expert in the area of Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 21, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Data shows long-term benefit of TMS in patients with depression using NeuroStar TMS therapy system
(Tonic Life Communications USA) New data released today at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association show that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy System® induced statistically and clinically meaningful response and remission in patients with Major Depressive Disorder during the acute phase of therapy, which were maintained through one year of treatment. At the end of acute treatment, 62 percent of patients achieved symptomatic improvement while 41 percent reported complete remission. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 21, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Atypical cortical representation of peripheral visual space in children with an autism spectrum disorder
Abstract A key feature of early visual cortical regions is that they contain discretely organized retinotopic maps. Titration of these maps must occur through experience, and the fidelity of their spatial tuning will depend on the consistency and accuracy of the eye movement system. Anomalies in fixation patterns and the ballistics of eye movements are well documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with off‐center fixations a hallmark of the phenotype. We hypothesized that these atypicalities might affect the development of visuo‐spatial maps and specifically that peripheral inputs might receive altered processing ...
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 21, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Hans‐Peter Frey, Sophie Molholm, Edmund C. Lalor, Natalie N. Russo, John J. Foxe Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

A small cohort of FRUM and Engrailed-expressing neurons mediate successful copulation in Drosophila melanogaster
Conclusions: We have identified a population of interneurons necessary for successful copulation in Drosophila. These data confirm a model in which subsets of FRUM neurons participate in independent neuronal circuits necessary for individual steps of male behavior. In addition, we have determined that these neurons in wild-type males have homologues in females and fru mutants, with similar placement, projection patterns, and neurochemical profiles. (Source: BMC Neuroscience - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Neuroscience - Latest articles - May 21, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Kristin LathamYing-Show LiuBarbara Taylor Source Type: research

Delta-like 1 regulates Bergmann glial monolayer formation during cerebellar development
Conclusion: These results suggest that Dll1 is required for the formation of the BG layer and its morphological maturation, apparently through a Notch1/2-RBPj dependent signaling pathway. (Source: Molecular Brain)
Source: Molecular Brain - May 21, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Yuichi HiraokaOkiru KomineMai NagaokaNing BaiKatsuto HozumiKohichi Tanaka Source Type: research

China's One-Child Policy Affects Personality
In 1979 China instituted the one-child policy, which limited every family to just one offspring in a controversial attempt to reduce the country's burgeoning population. The strictly enforced law had the desired effects: in 2011 researchers estimated that the policy prevented 400 million births. In a new study in Science , researchers find that it has also caused China's so-called little emperors to be more pessimistic, neurotic and selfish than their peers who have siblings. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)
Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed - May 20, 2013 Category: Science Tags: Mind & Brain,Society Policy,Thought Cognition,More Science,Psychology,Mind Brain,Everyday Science Source Type: research

Are mental illnesses such as PMS and depression culturally determined? | Corrinne Burns
A growing number of psychiatrists suspect mental conditions are 'culture-bound syndromes' rather than exclusively biologicalThe latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM 5 – was published over the weekend. Produced by the American Psychiatric Association, it describes the symptoms of a vast range of mental illnesses and is intended as a guide to diagnosis.Why should we in the UK care? Simple: the political dominance of the US means that as soon as a mental disorder is named in the DSM, that disorder becomes valid in the eyes of many.But not everyone is a fan. The DSM committee ha...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - May 20, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Corrinne Burns Tags: Psychology Blogposts guardian.co.uk Medical research Neuroscience Source Type: news

Researchers Visualize Memory Formation For The First Time In Zebrafish
In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices. The study, published in the journal Neuron was carried out by Dr. Tazu Aoki and Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 20, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology / Neuroscience Source Type: news

Usefulness of near‐infrared spectroscopy to detect brain dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder when inferring the mental state of others
ConclusionsNIRS showed that there was lower activity in the prefrontal brain area when children with ASD performed MS tasks. Therefore, clinicians might be able to use NIRS and these tasks for conveniently detecting brain dysfunction in children with ASD related to inferring mental states, in the clinical setting. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Ryoichiro Iwanaga, Goro Tanaka, Hideyuki Nakane, Sumihisa Honda, Akira Imamura, Hiroki Ozawa Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves performance in emotional memory retrieval as a function of level of anxiety and stimulus valence
ConclusionLeft DLPFC activation favors the memory retrieval of positive emotional information and might limit the unbalance effect induced by right hemispheric superiority in high levels of anxiety. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Michela Balconi, Chiara Ferrari Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Tianeptine combination for partial or non‐response to selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor monotherapy
ConclusionsA combination strategy with tianeptine may be an effective and well‐tolerated tool for patients who have failed to adequately respond to SSRI monotherapy. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Young Sup Woo, Won‐Myong Bahk, Jong‐Hyun Jeong, Seung‐Hwan Lee, Hyeung‐Mo Sung, Chi‐Un Pae, Bon‐Hoon Koo, Won Kim Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Is T‐helper type 2 shift schizophrenia‐specific? Primary results from a comparison of related psychiatric disorders and healthy controls
ConclusionA clear Th2 shift was observed in schizophrenia, but not in schizophrenia‐related disorders. The Th2 shift in schizophrenia appeared to be an aberrant developmental phenomenon. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sonnig Sue‐Whei Chiang, Michael Riedel, Markus Schwarz, Norbert Mueller Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Awareness of deficits in Alzheimer's disease patients: Analysis of performance prediction discrepancies
ConclusionA methodological and conceptual difficulty has been identified, and this raises the issue of the generalizability of studies with a focus on memory unawareness. The method proposed seems a good tool to assess the relationships between unawareness and several different aspects of cognitive functioning, in particular executive functioning. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Pascal Antoine, Jean‐Louis Nandrino, Caroline Billiet Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Symptom severity of panic disorder associated with impairment in emotion processing of threat‐related facial expressions
ConclusionThis study suggests that symptom severity of PD might be associated with impairment in emotion processing of threat‐related facial expressions. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sheng‐Min Wang, Yura Kim, Bora Yeon, Hae‐Kook Lee, Yong‐Sil Kweon, Chung Tai Lee, Kyoung‐Uk Lee Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Validation of computer‐administered clinical rating scale: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale assessment with Interactive Voice Response technology – Japanese version
ConclusionOur results suggest that the Japanese IVR HAM‐D program is reliable and valid to assess 17‐item HAM‐D total score in Japanese depressive patients. However, the current program tends to overestimate depression severity, and the score of each item did not always show high agreement with clinician's rating, which warrants further improvement in the program. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Hiroshi Kunugi, Norie Koga, Miyako Hashikura, Takamasa Noda, Yu Shimizu, Takayuki Kobayashi, Jun Yamanaka, Noriaki Kanemoto, Teruhiko Higuchi Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Association between high serum total bilirubin and post‐stroke depression
ConclusionsHigh bilirubin level is associated with PSD. Further investigations are needed to clarify the underlying pathophysiological link between bilirubin level and PSD. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Wai Kwong Tang, Huajun Liang, Winnie Chiu Wing Chu, Vincent Mok, Gabor S. Ungvari, Ka Sing Wong Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Percentage reduction of depression severity versus absolute severity after initial weeks of treatment to predict final response or remission
ConclusionApplying percentage of reduction in depression severity during the early weeks of treatment can predict response, and it is reasonable to apply depression severity to predict remission. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Ching‐Hua Lin, Cheng‐Chung Chen, Fu‐Chiang Wang, Hsien‐Yuan Lane Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Affective theory of mind in patients with Parkinson's disease
ConclusionThese findings confirmed that affective ToM may be impaired in PD, but any conclusion can be made on the effect of disease progression on this ability of social cognition. Therefore, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate this potential effect. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Michele Poletti, Andrea Vergallo, Martina Ulivi, Alessandro Sonnoli, Ubaldo Bonuccelli Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Resequencing and association analysis of MIR137 with schizophrenia in a Japanese population
MicroRNA may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. A recent meta‐analysis of genome‐wide association studies indicated a significant association between schizophrenia and a common intronic variation in MIR137HG (microRNA 137 host gene) encoding the primary microRNA‐137. To explore additional risk variations for schizophrenia, we resequenced MIR137 and performed an association analysis in 1321 Japanese individuals. By resequencing, we detected four sequence variations in the 5' and 3' flanking regions. There were no significant associations between these variations and schizophrenia. Our resequencing an...
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Jun Egawa, Ayako Nunokawa, Masako Shibuya, Yuichiro Watanabe, Naoshi Kaneko, Hirofumi Igeta, Toshiyuki Someya Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

Identification of a patient with sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in a psychiatric ward
(Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Hsin‐Yu Yang, Shiau‐Shian Huang, Chih‐Chien Lin, Tsuo‐Hung Lan, Chin‐Hong Chan Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

Case of dementia with Lewy bodies that progressed from schizoaffective disorder
(Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)
Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Naoko Iida, Keisuke Shibata, Yuri Nagahara, Aiko Okamura, Teruyuki Matsuoka, Takashi Nakamae, Jin Narumoto, Kenji Fukui Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

Effects of ventral striatal lesions on first‐ and second‐order appetitive conditioning
Abstract Rats with bilateral lesions of the ventral striatal nucleus accumbens failed to acquire Pavlovian second‐order conditioning to auditory stimuli paired with visual stimuli that had previously received first‐order pairings with food. This deficit in second‐order conditioning was specific to learning driven by incentive properties of the first‐order cues, and was observed whether the first‐order training had occurred prior to or after lesion surgery. Lesions also produced deficits in the display of conditioned responses to the first‐order conditioned stimulus, but only when they were made after first‐or...
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Michael A. McDannald, Barry Setlow, Peter C. Holland Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Odorant responsiveness of embryonic mouse olfactory sensory neurons expressing the odorant receptors S1 or MOR23
We report patch‐clamp recordings from embryonic mouse olfactory sensory neurons that express the odorant receptor gene S1 or MOR23, using the odorous ligands 2‐phenylethyl alcohol or lyral. We identify E16.5 as the upper limit of the acquisition of odorant responsiveness by these neuronal populations. The S1 and MOR23 glomeruli in the olfactory bulb are formed postnatally. These neuronal populations can thus respond to a cognate odorant several days before their axons coalesce into glomeruli. (Source: European Journal of Neuroscience)
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Rebecca S. Lam, Peter Mombaerts Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Metabolism: Flavours of value
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 379 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3519 Author: Leonie Welberg Animals can form preferences for flavours previously paired with another, undetectable, calorie-rich substance, suggesting the formation of associations between flavours and nutritional value. The authors showed that in humans, increases in plasma glucose levels after ingestion of a flavour paired with the carbohydrate maltodextrin correlated (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Leonie Welberg Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Psychiatric disorders: Astrocytic ATP in depression
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 379 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3520 Author: Leonie Welberg Depression has been associated with glial dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Here, mice that developed depression-like behaviour after chronic social defeat stress had reduced ATP levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus compared with non-depressed and control mice. Central or peripheral (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Leonie Welberg Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Neuroimaging: Evaluating ads with fMRI
This study used functional MRI (fMRI) to assess smokers' responses to the content of anti-smoking television advertisements. Advertisements with strong arguments (as rated by smokers) evoked greater responses in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) than those with weaker arguments, and dmPFC activation negatively correlated with (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Leonie Welberg Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Visual processing: Area V4 in motion
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 379 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3522 Author: Leonie Welberg Although visual area V4 is known to process object colour and form, it also contains motion-direction sensitive neurons. The authors investigated the functional organization of directional responses in this area using optical imaging and single-cell recording in monkeys. The neurons that respond to stimuli moving (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Leonie Welberg Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Auditory system: Sound choices
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 381 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3523 Author: Darran Yates Corticostriatal neuronal activity in the auditory cortex is necessary to drive behavioural choices in an auditory discrimination task. (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Darran Yates Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

NMDA receptor subunit diversity: impact on receptor properties, synaptic plasticity and disease
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 383 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3504 Authors: Pierre Paoletti, Camilla Bellone & Qiang Zhou NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels and are crucial for neuronal communication. NMDARs form tetrameric complexes that consist of several homologous subunits. The subunit composition of NMDARs is plastic, resulting in a large number of receptor subtypes. As each receptor subtype has distinct biophysical, (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Pierre PaolettiCamilla BelloneQiang Zhou Tags: Review Source Type: research

Bridging the gap between theories of sensory cue integration and the physiology of multisensory neurons
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 429 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrn3503 Authors: Christopher R. Fetsch, Gregory C. DeAngelis & Dora E. Angelaki The richness of perceptual experience, as well as its usefulness for guiding behaviour, depends on the synthesis of information across multiple senses. Recent decades have witnessed a surge in our understanding of how the brain combines sensory cues. Much of this research has been guided (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Christopher R. FetschGregory C. DeAngelisDora E. Angelaki Tags: Review Source Type: research

Upregulation of myeloid cell leukemia-1 potentially modulates beclin-1-dependent autophagy in ischemic stroke in rats
Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the expression of Mcl1 is involved in the survival of neuronal cells. In addition, the coexpression of Mcl1 with beclin-1 may attenuate beclin-1-dependent autophagy during ischemic stroke in rats. (Source: BMC Neuroscience - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Neuroscience - Latest articles - May 20, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Chen XingyongSun XicuiSu HuanxingOu JingsongHuang YiZhang XuHuang RuxunPei Zhong Source Type: research